Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-02-11
The Indiana fund for monument
to Hendricks has not yet reached
lite first thousand.
LINCoLN's PORTRAIT.
A FuIl-length Pi, turc which has had q
Curious History.


Many have noticed the ;ulllenGth por-
trait Of President Lincoln which hangs in
the Riggs House. There is a curious story
regarding II, says the Washington Hatchet.
The figure is of heroic size, and represents
the "mnrtyr President" standing at u table
holding the Constitution in his hand. Its
fidelity to nature has been commended by
many old friends of Mr.. Lincoln and posi-
lively testified to by his ION, The ex-Secre.
tary of War. 1t is the work of. a young
German artist named w. X. Travis and
the Circumstance surrounding its execu-
tion are quite romantic.
In the eaIiy summer Of 1862, n bright
eyed German of about 90 appeared at the
Capital. He was the son OF portrait
painter of local repute in Frankfort-ou-the-
Main. According to the son, the father
had served under Butcher during "The
Hundred days" that eliminated in the
battle of Wa erl0o. Young Travis had q
military education in addition to an adj
mirable course of instruction in the gym
nasium OF his native city. Like the Count
dc Paris and other foreigners of greater
distinction than this poor artists son,
Travis came to see some real war. He
offered his services in New York before
coming to Washington, had been taken to
Governors Island, but had been rejected
on account Of clearly marked pulmonary
affection. When he reached here Travis
was Respondent. He wandered about the
city for several weeks, but made few &C.
quGintances because of his limited know
ledge of the English Ian yuGge. One day
he visited the White House and saw III.
portraits of the eX-Presden;s. An idea
occurred to him. If he could not fight for
the struggling nation, he could at east
paint r picture of its President, who oc-
cupicd q hGl'owed place in tho artists
heart. But q realization of his fancy WAS
not SO easy. N vain nc Personally ap-
piled at Tie Willie House to arrange for a
"sitting" with Mr.. incoln. He could not
even get to see him. But he continued to
go. One day he met Mr.. Lin o!n on the
street. He approached and introduced
himself in very bro en- English. He told
how he, an allen, had tried to fight for
this country, had been rejected, and what
he desired to do to leave something as a
momcRto to the strange land he 10, ed so
well. Though he probably did not under.
stand more than half t!atthc young art st
said, the President was Impressed with his
manlinesS and his earDestncss He gave
aud kept il to the exclusion Of everything
else. He sat for an hour and told the
stranger several good storlss-not tw enty
words If which Travis III dcrstood. A
subsequent sitting was arranged, but it
was interrupted just after it was .LcEan,
ard Travis never saw Mr. Lincoln again.
Hc went to New York aid sailed fer
home.
10 ra1lI.. -
the story. General Webster, 4 iclative
CT Benjamin +. Bull r, was one Of Piesi-
dent Grants fr,t foreign appo.n mcnts.
He was made Consult General at Frank
fort. In tao avi ling Of 1865 Il tall. luIl
bearded man entered the consulate. intro.
duccd him; Elf aud sailtt al he ha! naiu:ed
portrait Of Pre- i!ent Lincoln ard asked
that lie might bring it there for in pee
ton and criticism by AnrlicaHs. ten.
eral Webster, surprising llat t wGs
email portrait, gave The permission in
spirit OF friendlipess to the people aronS
whom he vGy -r*il'ng. Imagine Lis sur
prize, then, as n heavy truck backed up
before the door ard deposited this gigantic
piece of canvas. l. required Il dozen
portars TO piece It on the walls OF the
consulate. AS those know who have seen
the plClCrt ~ luC htSSS. tEo canvas IL
fully ten feet high by six feet broad. The
framo is nearly one foot il wiz ii.
The picture attracted much attention.
Consul-Gcncral Webster pure haeed it.
Ten years later il was sent to the Ccnten-
NAL Exhibition at Philadelphia At the
close of that show the pictures remaining
unclaimed were stored in the vaults OF the
Academy Of Fine Artsin that city. There
1t narrowly escaped destruction by fire.
About this time two grown children Of
Mr.. Webster died; his wife soon followed,
and he pas: ed to the grave in 1877. The
existence of the picture WIS totally for.
gotten by his only immediate heir, Mr..
Bentice Webster Of Lowell, Mass 1t
slumbered In the darkness of the cellar in
Philadelphia until the winter OF 1882,
when it was rcdiscovcred A friend Of
the Webster family brought it to the at
tention of the only surviving heir. He
placed 1t in the custody of that friend,
who brought it 10 Washington last year,
and, by Mr.. SEotford's courtesy, found it
place ut the Riggs House. Surely a
curious story; but tue. Go take look
at the picture,